Scuba Diving Anyone?

I had a pacemaker placed in 6/7/10 and my husband and I are going on a cruise March 2012. We are thinking about doing scuba diving, but I am wondering if this will be possible with my pacemaker. We want to try and get scuba diving certified before we go next year, but not sure if my doctor will sign off on it or not. Just wondering if anyone out there has scuba diving experience with a pacemaker or not.

Thanks much.

5 Comments

Scuba!

by pacergirl - 2011-03-21 07:03:09

I asked my dr. about this very thing a few years back. I love water and water sports and I like to think I am an adventurous type. There are pacemakers that have depth ratings as Cabg Patch was saying. I have a St. Jude Dual, but I see that you have a Medtronic. I would contact Medtronic directly and see what they say.

Good idea

by ElectricFrank - 2011-03-22 01:03:45

Give Medtronics a call if you are concerned. I really doubt that there is a problem with scuba diving unless you are into real deep water stuff.

Be sure that your doctor has some knowledge of diving before relying on him/her for advice. For many the answer would be a knee jerk NO.

frank

More

by ElectricFrank - 2011-03-22 01:03:48

Take a look at http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.aspx?faqid=143

This has a very good description of the issues involved.

frank

Thank You

by heather1723 - 2011-03-27 10:03:49

I called Medtronic and they said 49 feet is the maximum depth I could possibly dive at but of course with scuba diving you need to get written permission from your cardiologist before attempting to do that let alone try and get certified.

Scuba Diving

by Wesboog - 2011-04-06 02:04:24

AS LONG AS YOU DON'T DO DEEP WATER WEILDING YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOUR HEART ALLOWS, wATCH YOUR BREATHING WHEN DEEP AS PACEMAKER MIGHT KICK IN AND YOU COULD BECOME CONFUSED WITH THEKICK OF THE DEFIBBRILLATOR. yOU MIGHT NOT HAVE A DEFIBBRILATOR

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I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.